29THEY ARE PREPARED FOR <THE> MOCKERS JUDGMENTS AND BLOWS FOR [THE] BACK OF FOOLS 29Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
1[IS] A MOCKER <THE> WINE [IS] NOISY STRONG DRINK AND ANY [ONE WHO] STAGGERS IN IT NOT HE IS WISE Wine Is a Mocker 1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2[IS] A ROARING LIKE <THE> YOUNG LION [THE] TERROR OF A KING [ONE WHO] INFURIATES HIM [IS] MISSING LIFE HIS 2The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him forfeits his own life.*NoteCloseLiterally sins against his own soul
3[IS] HONOR TO <THE> PERSON CESSATION FROM STRIFE AND EVERY FOOL HE BURSTS OUT 3It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute, but any fool will quarrel.
4FROM WINTER A SLUGGARD NOT HE PLOWS AND HE ASKS AT THE HARVEST AND NOTHING 4The slacker does not plow in season; at harvest time he looks, but nothing is there.
5[IS] WATER DEEP A PLAN IN [THE] HEART OF A PERSON AND A PERSON OF UNDERSTANDING HE DRAWS OUT IT 5The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.
6A MULTITUDE OF PERSON[S] HE PROCLAIMS EACH ONE LOYALTY HIS AND A PERSON OF FAITHFULNESS<ES> WHO? WILL HE FIND 6Many a man proclaims his loving devotion, but who can find a trustworthy man?
7[ONE WHO] GOES ABOUT IN INTEGRITY HIS A RIGHTEOUS [PERSON] HOW BLESSED! [ARE] SONS HIS AFTER HIM 7The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
8A KING [WHO] SITS ON A THRONE OF JUDGMENT [IS] WINNOWING WITH EYES HIS ALL EVIL 8A king who sits on a throne to judge sifts out all evil with his eyes.
9WHO? WILL HE SAY I HAVE KEPT PURE HEART MY I AM PURE FROM SIN MY 9Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am cleansed from my sin”?
10A WEIGHT AND A WEIGHT A MEASURE AND A MEASURE [ARE] [THE] ABOMINATION OF YAHWEH ALSO BOTH OF THEM 10Differing weights and unequal measures*NoteCloseHebrew A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah — both are detestable to the LORD.
11ALSO BY DEEDS HIS HE MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN A YOUTH IF [IS] PURE AND IF [IS] UPRIGHT ACTIVITY HIS 11Even a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.
12AN EAR [WHICH] HEARS AND AN EYE [WHICH] SEES YAHWEH HE HAS MADE ALSO BOTH OF THEM 12Ears that hear and eyes that see— the LORD has made them both.
13MAY NOT YOU LOVE SLEEP LEST YOU SHOULD BECOME IMPOVERISHED OPEN EYES YOUR BE SATISFIED FOOD 13Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.
14BAD BAD HE SAYS THE BUYER AND [HE IS] GOING AWAY <FOR> HIMSELF THEN HE BOASTS 14“Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out he gloats.
15THERE [IS] GOLD AND ABUNDANCE OF JEWELS AND [ARE] AN ARTICLE OF PRECIOUSNESS LIPS OF KNOWLEDGE 15There is an abundance of gold and rubies, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure.
16TAKE GARMENT HIS FOR HE STANDS SURETY FOR A STRANGER AND FOR A FOREIGN [WOMAN] HOLD IN PLEDGE IT 16Take the garment of the one who posts security for a stranger; get collateral if it is for a foreigner.*NoteCloseOr a wayward woman
17[IS] SWEET TO <THE> PERSON FOOD OF FALSEHOOD AND AFTER IT WILL BE FILLED MOUTH HIS GRAVEL 17Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man, but later his mouth is full of gravel.
18PLANS BY COUNSEL IT IS ESTABLISHED AND BY WISE DIRECTIONS MAKE WAR 18Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
19[IS] UNCOVERING SECRET COUNSEL [ONE WHO] GOES ABOUT A SLANDERER AND TO [ONE WHO] OPENS LIPS HIS NOT YOU WILL GET INVOLVED 19He who reveals secrets is a constant gossip; avoid the one who babbles*NoteCloseOr the one who is simple with his lips.
20[ONE WHO] CURSES FATHER HIS AND MOTHER HIS IT WILL BE EXTINGUISHED LAMP HIS IN A TIME OF DARKNESS 20Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be extinguished in deepest darkness.
21AN INHERITANCE HASTILY GAINED AT <THE> FIRST AND END ITS NOT IT WILL BE BLESSED 21An inheritance gained quickly will not be blessed in the end.
22MAY NOT YOU SAY I WILL REPAY EVIL WAIT FOR YAHWEH SO MAY HE DELIVER <TO> YOU 22Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.
23[ARE] [THE] ABOMINATION OF YAHWEH A WEIGHT AND A WEIGHT AND BALANCES OF DECEIT NOT [ARE] GOOD 23Unequal weights are detestable to the LORD, and dishonest scales are no good.
24[ARE] FROM YAHWEH [THE] STEPS OF A MAN AND ANYONE WHAT? WILL HE UNDERSTAND OWN WAY HIS 24A man’s steps are from the LORD, so how can anyone understand his own way?
25A SNARE OF A PERSON HE MAY SAY RASHLY HOLINESS AND AFTER [THE] VOWS TO CONSIDER 25It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly, only later to reconsider his vows.
26[IS] WINNOWING WICKED [PEOPLE] A KING WISE AND HE BROUGHT BACK OVER THEM A WHEEL 26A wise king separates out the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27[THE] LAMP OF YAHWEH [IS THE] BREATH OF A HUMAN [IT IS] SEARCHING ALL [THE] CHAMBERS OF [THE] BELLY 27The spirit*NoteCloseOr breath or speech of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being.
28LOYALTY AND FAITHFULNESS THEY PRESERVE A KING AND HE SUSTAINS BY <THE> LOYALTY THRONE HIS 28Loving devotion and faithfulness preserve a king; by these he maintains his throne.
29[THE] GLORY OF YOUNG MEN [IS] STRENGTH THEIR AND [THE] SPLENDOR OF OLD [PEOPLE] [IS] GRAY HAIR 29The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
30WOUNDS OF BRUISE[S] [ARE] A CLEANSING <IN> EVIL AND BLOWS [THE] CHAMBERS OF [THE] BELLY 30Lashes and wounds scour evil, and beatings cleanse the inmost parts.